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Fall is a great time to harvest medicinal roots. Autumn is the time of year when the plant’s energies are focused back into the roots instead of the leaves and flowers, especially after a frost. Dandelion and Valerian are the two I’m going to be focused on this week as we get our first hard frosts.
Dandelion Root
As any gardener knows, dandelion can be a bugger of a root to dig up. Generally, speaking I get small little nubs of roots but plenty of them for drying. It’s always easiest to dig them up in a softer garden bed than it is out of a lawn. Do the best you can to get a spade underneath and pull up what you can.
Once the root is harvested, it can be used fresh, after a good scrubbing. For long-term storage, it’s easy to dry: simply scrub, chop into pieces, and dry in a dehydrator until crisp. Store in airtight container until ready to use.
Dandelion Root Uses
Dandelion is often considered a liver cleanser and helps rid the body of inflammation. Make a tincture by simply covering the dried root with vodka (or grain alcohol) in a jar and letting sit for 6 weeks (shaking when you remember) and then strain. Keep the tincture stored in a tightly sealed glass container until needed (I use beer bottles with the swing tops to store tinctures).
A tea is simply made by simmering the roots in water for 20-30 minutes before straining.
Overeat at the holiday buffet? Take 10 drops of the tincture in water every hour until that sluggish feeling passes.
It’s even good for your pets and barnyard animals for the same reasons it’s good for us – helps with digestion and cleanses the liver.
Valerian Root
I purposely grow valerian in my garden and only dig up a small portion each year so that it regenerates for next year. If you harvest from the wild, please do so responsibly. Like dandelion, give the roots a scrub and use fresh or dry.
Valerian Root Uses
Valerian can be used as a tea and tincture made in the same manner as dandelion and is most often used as a way to soothe anxiety and promote sleep. It’s exactly how we use it in our home medicine chest – to promote sleep during bouts of insomnia. We keep a bottle of tincture handy and when insomnia strikes, simply put a few drops under the tongue and it usually doesn’t take long before sleep comes.
Harvesting medicinal roots is easy and a great way to build up the home herbal medicine chest. What roots are you harvesting and using this fall?
I’ve used dandelion greens and flowers before, but never the root. Thanks for the info :)
thank you ,very interesting harvest roots news for a good an unexpensive health.
Hi Kathie! Great blog post and website!! I have a question regarding the Valerian Root… how mature do the roots need to be? And, can they be appropriately grown in a hydroponic system for medicinal use? Thank you,
Let the plant be at least 2 years old before harvesting roots. I’m sorry I don’t know much at all about hydroponic growing but I can’t see why it would make the plant/root less medicinal.
Curious about hydroponic since a lot of our produce is going that way… How do the fruits and vegetables get nutrients if they are growing in water? I was always told that the nutrient rich soil either passes the nutrients on to the plant, or helps the plant create it’s own..not sure which. But water is void of nutrients.
Thanks!
My knowledge of hydroponics is less than basic but I know they feed the plants with different kinds of fertilizers. It’s more than just plain water.
@Verbena, Nutrients are added to the water. We have a local farm here called 302 Hydroponics. They grow tilapia. Filter the water from the tilapia and feed the produce!Absolutely amazing process we were able to tour with our homeschool group!
Thank you for great info. These things are much cheaper than going to the pharmacy
Hi Kathie, thkx so much for the info ? I’ve always heard that u could use dandelions for medicinal purposes but never knew how. Thkx again, Karen
I’m so glad to know you found these useful!
Hello Katie
I’ve started growing my own plants & would like to dry the plant and put in capsules, can this be done. My other question is when cleaning roots can I leave them to soak or does it dilute them in strength.
Thanks Marylou
I imagine you could grind the dried roots and put them into capsules. I’ve never tried but I don’t know why it couldn’t be done. It doesn’t seem the most traditional way to get roots into the body however – usually it’s tea or tincture. Soak those roots, it’s about the only way to get them clean in my experience. I don’t know if it would dilute the strength but I’ve never read anything about it being true.
Do you think harvesting in early spring will be ok before bloom ?
It would be absolutely fine to harvest and use.
Is there another way to dry roots? I don’t own a dehydrator and I can’t afford one.
You could try an oven on the lowest possible setting. Keep a very close eye on it.
I don’t own a dehydrator.
I’ve not tried drying roots but I do dry leaves and flowers in a drying cage that I leave on a tin roof in dry hot weather or in the poly tunnel. Hope this helps
searched google for how to dry fesh valerian, this came up, says nothing about what i searched for…
If you’re trying to dry the valerian root do in the same manner as dandelion roots mentioned in the article. If you’re wanting to dry the fresh leaves – see this article on drying herbs: https://homespunseasonalliving.com/dry-herbs/
Turn a box (window) fan face down with screen on top, place products on top while running fan at low speed for diy dehydrator.
@Bill,
That is the best idea! Thanks, I will definitely be using this,as well as letting others know!🌬️🏵️🌼🌻🥀
When taking it for sleep how much? And what can you or should you eat after taking valerian for the night.
For adults one dropper full is likely to be enough – though for myself that’s actually a bit too strong. Try 1/2 a dropper full and see if that’s enough. Take it 30 minutes to an hour before bed and I wouldn’t eat after that… PS: I’m not a doctor and talking to a local herbalist or health practitioner is always wise.
Thanks for the tips very interesting will definitely try it
How long will the tincture last and stay good?
Likely a very, very long time alcohol is a great preservative but I would use it up within a year.
Just made some dandy oil-2 weeks in and strained-going back for more flowers today after a rain and now the sun is coming out to dry them🌼